OZZY OSBOURNE's new album, "Scream", has been certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for sales in excess of 40,000 copies.
"Scream" moved 81,000 units in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart. It has since sold around 250,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Osbourne's previous album, "Black Rain", opened with 152,000 units back in May 2007 to enter the chart at No. 3. That number was in line with the 153,000 first-week tally registered by 2001's "Down to Earth", which debuted at No. 4.
Ozzy revealed in an interview with Guitar World that alcohol was the reason he had to part company with longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde. The singer admitted that it was difficult to stay sober around someone who drank so heavily. Ozzy explained, "Zakk came in at the beginning of the new (record), but he was still drinking. When you're drunk and somebody else is drinking, it's OK, but when you're sober and somebody's blabbering away in your ear, it ain't."
Ozzy added, "I love his playing; he's one of the greats. But it was the drink getting the better of him. I couldn't watch him die. In one sick respect, it was good for me to see, because that's what I was like, and worse. Believe me, if I started drinking now you'd think, 'I've got to get out of here.' That's how I felt around Zakk toward the end."
Ozzy, who hasn't had a drink since 2007, says he heard that Wylde himself is now sober as well. He also insists the two are still friends, saying, "We're like family."
Wylde's replacement in Ozzy's band is Greek axeman Gus G., and Ozzy admitted to The Pulse of Radio that playing guitar in his band is a high-pressure gig. "Whoever stands in the shoes of another guitar player that's played with me has got a lot to achieve, you know," he said. "And no matter what I say to them, you know — Zakk was the new guy once, and Randy (Rhoads) was the new guy once, and Jake E. Lee was the new guy — it's got to be the hardest gig in the world after all them guys I've had, from Tony Iommi onwards, you know. I mean, the guitar players I've worked with in my career have been unbelievable, you know."
Kory Grow of Revolver magazine recently conducted an interview with Wendy Dio, the widow and manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, DIO, RAINBOW, ELF). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Revolver: We were really honored to have [Ronnie] at the Revolver Golden Gods award show [in April 2010]. How were his spirits after that?
Wendy: "I really thank you for that. Very, very special. I mean, he fought [the cancer] so hard. And he didn't let it get in his way. Because he didn't think it was going to conquer him. And nor did I, we just thought, 'We're gonna beat it.' And that was the attitude he had through the whole time, right until the end."
"I was actually leaving that Friday morning [on May 14, 2010, two days before Ronnie's passing] to go to, I think it was, Chicago. And he wasn't feeling well. And I was like, 'You know what? I think we should go see the doctor.' The doctor said, 'I think we should take him to the hospital.' So we went to the hospital and Ronnie says, 'Go, go. I'll be fine.' And I'm like, 'No, no. I'm staying.' And thank God I didn't go, because that was the Friday, and then he got these incredible pains. Incredible pains which he hadn't experienced before that strong. And they gave him a bunch of morphine, and once they'd given him, like, three shots of morphine, he was almost in a coma. He came in and out of it a few times, and then he passed away on the Sunday."
Revolver: Could you communicate with him before he passed away?
Wendy: "No. Ronnie... I mean, I held his hand the whole time, and I'd ask him things and he'd squeeze my hand. In between the shots, I'd wait — just when the morphine was wearing off, they'd give him another shot — and he could communicate for a few seconds. But it was really hard. Really, really hard. There were, like, 30 people there, all of his really good friends were there that day."
Revolver: What's your fondest memory of Ronnie?
Wendy: "Oh, there's so many fond memories, you know. Every day there's a memory of something. I remember when we'd go to Houston to get the chemo, 'cause it's a long walk in the hospital, we'd skip along and go, 'OK, one more down to getting better.' You know, that's what we'd do. We'd go there with a positive attitude. And that was Ronnie's attitude on life.
"You know, I met Ronnie in 1975. I had a long, long time with him, and I have so many happy memories. Much more than any sad memories. I have those to live with."
The cover of the new issue of Revolver magazine features a stunning painting by legendary comic-book artist J.G. Jones (Superman, Batman, Wanted). Jones depicts Ronnie James Dio, SLIPKNOT's Paul Gray, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's The Rev, TYPE O NEGATIVE's Peter Steele, PANTERA's Dimebag Darrell, METALLICA's Cliff Burton, NIRVANA's Kurt Cobain, OZZY OSBOURNE's Randy Rhoads, QUEEN's Freddie Mercury, and ALICE IN CHAINS' Layne Staley rocking together in heaven. The cover painting also appears as a free poster with the issue.
Inside the issue, Revolver remembers the cover artists and many of hard rock and metal's other fallen heroes via exclusive interviews with members of SLIPKNOT and TYPE O NEGATIVE, Dio's wife and manager Wendy Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows, JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford, ALICE IN CHAINS' Mike Inez, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's Zakk Wylde, RAMONES' Marky Ramone, MELVINS' Buzz Osborne, rapper Ice-T, and more.
BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has posted the following end-of-year message on his official web site:
"I have been trying to come to terms with putting my thoughts and experiences of 2010 onto paper, and sadly, on the eve of Christmas, I find myself exhausted from the sheer weight of life on life's terms. To recall anything positive is arduous without bumping into the loss and lingering sadness I've felt over those who have died this year, and of most recently, my wife's father, Richard. It's difficult to smile when you're not smiling inside.
"However, melancholy aside, I have much to be grateful for. I'm alive, sober, and surrounded by loving people, children, animals and the critters that live outside the house. I feel blessed to still have a roof over my head and a fire in the hearth.
"I think a lot of you know already that for a while in 1983, I lost and ran away from most of which I just spoke of, asking for spare change to buy a drink and walking aimlessly through dismal streets. The pickings of my days were most ungratifying.
"In 2010, I've tried to be very patient with my ongoing projects, which, at times, seem trapped by circumstances beyond human control. Frustrations erupt as we move slowly towards finishing points, only to be stopped again by another unforeseen event.
"I, along with my colleagues, have been painstaking in the workplace. We have actually accomplished much in PR, documentaries, book interviews and multimedia opportunities, etc., etc. Some of the biggest projects are still slightly out of reach. I'm OK knowing we came as far as we could before Christmas loomed and demanded attention.
"This year, I've tried to do the 'right thing,' and I hope I haven't stood in the path of someone else's life flow. I have continuously lowered my expectations of what I think I deserve or what I want. I've especially focused on what I think America, my wife, my friends, my kids or God ought to do for me. I've pretty much had to surrender each day to 'reality,' whether I like it or not, and again, I keep the expectations surrendered. It's hard work, especially when there are a lot of challenges heading straight for me. It works out eventually — it all works out.
"Watching America, Britain, and many other countries get their ass kicked even more this year has been a heartbreak. So many are hurting — beautiful people — it's all very sad. If 'now' is a modern saviour, then I hope it'll save the countless who are living up the road and round the corner ten years from now in order to maintain their 'security.' It's a tough lesson — 'financial security' will let us down every time; from time to time, it'll let us down, and if you're in the memories of the good old days or when life was much better, then make an attempt to find 'now' because surely you will perish in 'yesterday.'
"I have to remember to kiss someone who needs kissing today, hold someone who needs holding today, and if I eat, I'll remember to say thank you and be grateful.
"I think compassion, hope today, surrender and forgiveness are a part of love, and love is a true, positive energy source, even for the most fragile amongst us. Love is a survivor; love pulls us through.
"We all have the components that create love; some like me have to dig a little deeper to allow love to flourish.
"I hope you will find love, and I hope it will serve you well and bring laughter and joy back to you. Hold love close to your heart because surely we will continue to face another reality-biting new year.
"As always, I raise my glass of water, and I wish you all happiness and health and love in 2011.
"Stay safe. Stay strong."
AN EXHIBITION to honour the life of Phil Lynott, who died 25 years ago today, is to be held in March.
The Thin Lizzy songwriter and bass guitarist died on January 4th, 1986, 11 days after collapsing at his home in Surrey following a drink and drugs overdose. He was 35.
The exhibition, which runs at the St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre throughout March, will feature guitars, flight cases and other equipment used by Lynott, lyric books, school reports and Lynott's shares in Manchester United Football Club – as well as personal letters, cards and other items collected by his mother Philomena and other friends over the years.
It includes a picture of Lynott with Bob Geldof at the old Irish Times building on D'Olier Street and material from the Hot Press archives.
The exhibition is being curated by Hot Press magazine and is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Dublin Unesco City of Literature, Dublin City Council, Dublin Tourism and RTÉ 2fm.
"I'm really thrilled that the exhibition has become a reality," Lynott's mother, Philomena Lynott, said.
"There is a huge feeling of goodwill out there towards
Philip and so I think this is going to be an inspiring event for all of the Irish people who loved my son and his music. I'm really looking forward to it."
The 25th anniversary of his death will be remembered tonight at the annual Vibe for Philo in Vicar Street, which is sold out.
Legendary rocker Alice Cooper rang in the New Year by joining fellow Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers James Hetfield (METALLICA) and Mick Fleetwood (FLEETWOD MAC) along with Pat Simmons (THE DOOBIE BROTHERS) and Mike Kroeger (NICKELBACK) on stage in Maui, Hawaii. The "supergroup" got together to play on New Year's Eve at a special party at Mala Wailea to benefit the MACC and the Maui Food Bank.
A couple of pictures of this supergroup playing a version of Cooper's "School's Out" can be found at AliceCooper.com.
The benefit was the second of two shows performed by the FLEETWOOD MAC co-founder and his band, the MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND; they also played on December 30 at a Maui Celebrity Series concert at Maui Theatre in Lahaina.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman Vince Neil's DUI trial — which was scheduled to begin on January 6 in Las Vegas Justice Court — has been reset for 9 a.m. on January 26.
Neil's attorney entered not guilty pleas during a hearing on October 11. The 49-year-old singer did not appear in person.
Neil failed three field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level almost three times the legal limit during his June 27, 2010 Las Vegas arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
In an interview conducted two days after arrest, Neil admitted he was drinking and said, "I shouldn't have been driving. I should have gotten a limo from the Hilton."
Vince was previously arrested in 2007 for suspected DUI but worked out a deal in which he pleaded no contest to reckless driving in exchange for having the DUI charge dropped, according to TMZ.com.
Nevada state law says that people convicted of DUI twice within seven years face anywhere from 10 days to six months in jail.
Neil was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation in 1984 after an accident in which he crashed his car, killing passenger Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley of the band HANOI ROCKS. Neil was driving under the influence at that time.
Neil also pleaded no contest to a charge of assaulting a music producer in 2002, and again pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges he attacked a prostitute at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada. In 2004, an arrest warrant was issued after he allegedly hit a sound engineer at a show in Texas.
William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has announced plans to release on May 10, 2011 the handbook to all things heavy metal — "Bringing Metal To The Children" by Zakk Wylde, guitar legend and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman. Wylde invites all who dare onto the tour bus for tales of glory, debauchery, and general mayhem. The book is co-authored by Eric Hendrikx.
In "Bringing Metal To The Children", Zakk Wylde, the man who turned heavy metal touring into a journey of fantastical excess, shares what really goes on behind tour bus windows and backstage doors. The twenty-five year music veteran of the OZZY OSBOURNE band and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY details his survival techniques for maintaining a life on the road, managing a band of raging vikings, and somehow making it on stage and blowing the crowd away night after night.
Beginning with Wylde's "true rocker test" (TRT), the reader answers and self-scores ten questions to determine if he is a true rocker and should continue reading, or if he's just a complete tool who needs to hand the book to someone more metal. Wylde continues the journey with his epic stories about life on the road, using his BLACK LABEL SOCIETY (BLS) coaching techniques to instruct the reader on proper touring hygiene, pre-concert preparations, and post-show etiquette. The road stories include wild nights with many of heavy metal's gods, including Rob Zombie, Eddie Van Halen, Dimebag Darrell, ALICE IN CHAINS' Mike Inez, SKID ROW's Snake Sabo, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich, professional wrestlers Chris Jericho, Bubba Dudley and Stone Cold Steve Austin, UFC former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin and, of course, the Godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne.
"Bringing Metal To The Children" also features Wylde's roadmap for success in the music business, tour planning and exclusive tips for the aspiring "metal musician," as well as the best methods for surviving a mosh pit and plans for how to set up a shooting range on the tour bus.
About the authors:
In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, graced countless magazine covers and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now-iconic BLACK LABEL SOCIETY in 1998. In the decade plus since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever (SDMF for short). Wylde and his Berserkers have established a heavy metal institution true to the vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock 'n' roll. To date, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY has sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide and continues to be a
massive presence on the worldwide touring and merchandising circuits. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest album, "Order Of The Black", was released in August 2010 and debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart.
Writer, photographer, and fellow Berserker Eric Hendrikx is a notable contributor to more than a dozen books, including Forrest Griffin's New York Times bestsellers "Got Fight?" and "Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down". A lifelong musician, Hendrikx played guitar in the rock band SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY and toured with bands, including QUEENSRŸCHE. He currently lives in Southern California with his son Stone.
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Catch legendary rocker Ted Nugent on "Anderson Cooper 360°" for a series of interviews January 5-7 at a special time — 9 p.m. EST — on CNN. The award-winning journalist hosts Nugent live, in studio, and gets Ted's take on what we can expect in 2011, breaking news and more.
Anderson Hays Vanderbilt Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the anchor of the CNN news show "Anderson Cooper 360°", an unconventional, wide-ranging news program airing on CNN weekdays. The program is broadcast live from New York City studio, and Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories.
Thirty years after KROKUS' original lineup conquered the world with its straight-forward, no-nonsense rock 'n' roll, the band's new studio album, "Hoodoo", was released last year and it reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Vocalist Marc Storace states, "It exceeded our boldest expectations; we never expected such a huge success!"
With all of KROKUS' commercial success since the reunion of the band's original lineup, there is most importantly total harmony among the bandmembers. Gone are the heated arguments and heavy disputes that troubled the group in the past and resulted in constant lineup changes. KROKUS founder and bassist Chris Von Rohr sums it up best: "We finally learned to accept the flaws and individual characteristics of each other and live with it."
And what will the immediate future bring? The only Swiss rock band ever to have sold 13 million albums worldwide since 1976 is planning a follow-up to "Hoodoo". Chris Von Rohr confirms: "Beginning of the year we start writing new songs."
Once the first step of writing songs is completed, recording will start most likely in the second half of 2011 with a release date in 2012 at the latest. By then the rockers from Solothurn, Switzerland will be — on average — 60 years old. Asked by Switzerland's largest boulevard paper if they were slowing down, Chris Von Rohr answered quickly, "No way." Reflecting for a moment, he laughed and added, "We are the prime example that rock music keeps you young — besides AC/DC and THE ROLLING STONES, of course."
"Hoodoo" was made available in the U.S. on May 25, 2010 via SonyMusic Independent Network (SIN). The CD was produced by bassist and founding member Chris Von Rohr and was recorded by Dennis Ward (who previously worked on KROKUS' "Hellraiser" album) at House of Music Studios in Winterbach, Germany, with additional recordings at Pink Bild and Ton (engineered by ex-KROKUS member Jürg Naegeli) in Solothurn, Switzerland and Henson Studios, Los Angeles. Photography, artwork and graphic design was handled by Martin Häusler.
San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT will play two very unique shows on the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, which is set to sail from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico on January 24, 2011 and return four days later. The first set will see the band perform its classic debut album, "The Legacy" (1987), in its entirety. At the second show, they will play another iconic masterpiece: 1988's "The New Order".
The festival billing is as follows:
AGENT STEEL
AMON AMARTH
BLACKGUARD
BLIND GUARDIAN
CRIPPER
DARK TRANQUILLITY
DEATH ANGEL
DESTRUCTION
DUSKMACHINE
ENSIFERUM
EPICA
EXODUS
FEAR FACTORY
FINNTROLL
FORBIDDEN
GAMMA RAY
ICED EARTH
KORPIKLAANI
MALEVOLENT CREATION
MARDUK
MOONSPELL
NEVERMORE
OBITUARY
RAGE
RAVEN
SABATON
SANCTUARY
SAXON
SODOM
SONATA ARCTICA
SWASHBUCKLE
TESTAMENT
TROUBLE
TÝR
ULI JON ROTH
UNLEASHED
VOIVOD
WITCHBURNER
SAXON will also play two unique shows. One night they will perform the "Wheels Of Steel" LP in its entirety and on a different night, for the second show, they will play "Strong Arm Of The Law" from start to finish.
70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty of the Seas" from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.
Make no mistake, 70000 Tons Of Metal is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all-ship heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass and you might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done!
Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals and non-alcoholic and non-carbonated drinks at the on-board restaurants and 24-hour room service!
For more information, go to www.70000tons.com.
San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS will open for the legendary British heavy metal act IRON MAIDEN on April 10, 2011 at Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile.
Comments EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt: "We had two shows left on the Thrashfest [European] tour [with KREATOR and DEATH ANGEL], everybody was tired and burned out, and then I got word that EXODUS will open for the one and only IRON MAIDEN in Chile! Best news ever! Just unbelievable!"
He adds, "There's no one bigger than IRON MAIDEN in South America. I've seen the DVD footage of their shows down in that part of the world, and to actually get to open for them ANYWHERE is amazing! But down there? Absolutely spectacular!
"We'll be playing Santiago with my heroes — a band whose songs we were covering at backyard parties — in front of 65,000 people! Suddenly we all got a big second wind! Stoked beyond belief is an understatement!"
With four months to go, 22,000 tickets to IRON MAIDEN's Santiago concert have already been sold. José Luis Corral, the event's producer, states: "We added EXODUS to expose the audience to something more extreme and also to have another classic name fundamental in the history of hard rock [on the bill] and very important for a generation of Chilean metalheads. I think it's the first time they've played together."
EXODUS's latest album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", was recorded last December in Northern California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR).
The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.
EXODUS' previous CD, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", opened with 3,600 units back in October 2007.
"Exhibit B: The Human Condition" was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.
EXODUS' "Downfall" video was helmed by SchneppZone director Jon Schnepp of "Metalocalypse" fame (the animated program about DETHKLOK, the world's most popular death metal band, on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) and was shot on April 1 on the old set of the television sitcom "Night Court". In addition, it features animated sequences by Los Angeles-based traditional animator Jeremy Polgar.
The reunited classic "Animosity" lineup of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY — Mike Dean (bass, vocals), Woody Weatherman (guitar) and Reed Mullin (drums) — has scheduled the following dates:
Apr. 14 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
Apr. 15 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Roadburn
Apr. 16 - Bremen, Germany - Tower
Apr. 17 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
Apr. 19 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
Apr. 20 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk
Apr. 21 - Athens, Greece - An Club
Apr. 22 - Mezzago (MI), Italy - Bloom
Apr. 23 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Dudefest-Jubez
Apr. 25 - Bristol, UK - Bierkeller
Apr. 26 - London, UK - Underworld
Apr. 28 - Manchester, UK - Moho
Apr. 29 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation
Apr. 30 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
May 01 - Deventer, Netherlands - Burgerweeshuis
May 27 - Baltimore, MD - Maryland Deathfest
Progressive metallers FATES WARNING have announced the following European tour dates:
Feb. 10 - Turock - Essen, Germany
Feb. 11 - Het Bolwerk - Sneek, Holland
Feb. 12 - Bosuil - Weert, Holland
Feb. 13 - De Kelder - Amersfoort, Holland
FATES WARNING 2011 is:
Ray Alder (vocals)
Jim Matheos (guitar)
Frank Aresti (guitar)
Joey Vera (bass)
Bobby Jarzombek (drums)
The "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING played a number of shows in 2010 in support of the recently released special edition of the album, which was made available through Metal Blade Records. In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).
InsideOut Music in 2005 released a FATES WARNING DVD entitled "Live In Athens". The DVD shot was on February 20, 2005 at Gagarin in Athens, Greece and was mixed by Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM).
FATES WARNING's latest CD, "X", was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2000's "Disconnected" was recorded at Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut and features cover artwork by renowned record-cover artist Ioannis (DREAM THEATER, SEPULTURA, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KING CRIMSON, BIOHAZARD, VOIVOD, UFO, OVERKILL).
BLIND GUARDIAN, DEICIDE, DEATH ANGEL, MERCENARY, OBSCURA and OCTOBER FILE have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Metalcamp festival, set to take place July 11-16, 2011 in Tolmin, Slovenia.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ABINCHOVA
ACCEPT
ALESTORM
AMORPHIS
ARKONA
BLIND GUARDIAN
BREZNO
DEATH ANGEL
DEICIDE
HATE
HEAVEN´S GREY
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ
IN EXTREMO
IN SOLITUDE
KALMAH
KREATOR
KYLESA
MERCENARY
MOONSORROW
MOONSPELL
OBSCURA
OCTOBER FILE
RISING DREAM
SUICIDAL ANGELS
THAUROROD
VANDERBUYST
WATAIN
WINTERSUN
For more information, visit www.metalcamp.com.
German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER will release a new EP, "Ballad Of Mary", on
March 4. The effort will include two versions of the title track â€" one
acoustic and the other taken from the forthcoming "The Clans Are Still Marching"
CD, featuring a guest appearance Doro Pesch â€" as well as a new recording of
"Rebellion" with Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN).
Check out the EP cover artwork below.
One cannot think of a better location to loudly celebrate a metal anniversary
than the legendary Wacken Open Air festival. German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER
never thought twice than to mark their 30th anniversary with a metal
extravaganza that would allow their most loyal fans to celebrate with them at
the metal Mecca. This once-in-a-lifetime evening delivered the band's classic
"Tunes of War" in its entirety. Thousands of headbangers shared in the enjoyment
of timeless anthems such as "Scotland United", "The Dark Of The Sun", and, of
course, "Rebellion". Staying true to the evening's theme, frontman Chris
Boltendahl performed in "Braveheart"-inspired garb. Yet he had more surprises up
his sleeve, as he welcomed guest artists VAN CANTO, Hansi Kürsch (BLIND
GUARDIAN), and metal queen Doro Pesch to join him on stage.
Due on March 7, 2011 via Napalm Records, "The Clans Are Still Marching" DVD
captures the energy of this unique evening and delivers it to living rooms
everywhere. The DVD also comprises backstage footage, interviews, the video of
"Highland Farewell" and its respective "Making of...", as well as all the live
tracks on CD.
Check out the "Rebellion" performance clip from the "The Clans Are Still
Marching" DVD below.
DVD
01. Intro: Scotland The Brave (feat. Bauluy Muluy Pipes & Drums Band)
02. Scotland United
03. The Dark Of The Sun
04. William Wallace (Braveheart)
05. The Bruce
06. The Battle Of Flodden
07. The Ballad Of Mary (feat. Doro)
08. The Truth
09. Cry For Freedom
10. Killing Time
11. Rebellion (feat. Hansi Kürsch)
12. Culloden Muir
13. Ballad Of A Hangman
14. Excalibur
15. Heavy Metal Breakdown
Bonus material:
* Behind the scenes
* Interview in English
* Interview in German
* Axel Ritt's iPhone clips
* "Highland Farewell" video clip
* Photo galleries
CD:
01. Intro: Scotland The Brave (feat. Bauluy Muluy Pipes & Drums Band)
02. Scotland United
03. The Dark Of The Sun
04. William Wallace (Braveheart)
05. The Bruce
06. The Battle Of Flodden
07. The Ballad Of Mary (feat. Doro)
08. The Truth
09. Cry For Freedom
10. Killing Time
11. Rebellion (feat. Hansi Kürsch)
12. Culloden Muir
13. Ballad Of A Hangman
14. Excalibur
15. Heavy Metal Breakdown
GRAVE DIGGER's latest album, "The Clans Will Rise Again", was released in Europe
on October 1 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded between mid-May and
mid-July at the Meadow Studios, which is owned by GRAVE DIGGER's new guitarist
Axel Ritt, and Principal Studios, where all of GRAVE DIGGER albums since 1995's
"Heart Of Darkness" have been tracked. It was produced by Chris Boltendahl and
mixed by Jörg Umbreit.
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"Scourge Of The Light", the new album from Colorado power metallers JAG PANZER, will be released on February 28, 2011 in Europe (except in Germany, where it will arrive three days earlier) and on March 8, 2011 in the U.S. via SPV/Steamhammer Records. In addition to the regular CD version, the effort will be made available as a double-vinyl set.
The cover artwork for "Scourge Of The Light" is available below. It was painted by Los Angeles artist Justin Yun.
For the original band members Harry Conklin (vocals), Mark Briody (guitar) and John Tetley (bass), JAG PANZER has always been something they held close to their hearts. "We've known each other from our earliest childhood and have never lost sight of the idea that this band is based on," Tetley explains. "I don't exactly want to use the term 'spiritual', but the three of us are connected with this band by a very special relationship. You could say that our lives are inseparably linked with the history of JAG PANZER."
This heartfelt passion has always been apparent in their songs, however: the American band has never sounded as impressive, mature and accomplished as on their latest album, "The Scourge Of The Light".
The reasons? Well, there are probably a number of them. Without a doubt, the band's two main songwriters, guitarists Mark Briody and Christian Lasegue, have never been in better form. Every one of their extremely dynamic riffs sounds haunting, every melody cuts their listeners to the core. It may sound like a contradiction, but since guitarist Chris Broderick, who was a bandmember between 1997 and 2007, left to join MEGADETH, JAG PANZER have returned to their old roots. "There can be no question that Chris Broderick is an amazing guitarist, and we were really happy for him that he got this chance with MEGADETH. But we feel that thanks to Christian Lasegue, JAG PANZER's classic, clearly more melodic power metal style has returned and that the fans will definitely be happy about this." Tetley may well be right since JAG PANZER's most recent studio recording "Casting The Stones" (2004) was criticized, especially in Europe, for its noticeably harsher
direction. "We knew that Christian was the best man for the job; after all he was a band member for three years in the mid-1980s," the band says.
But there are other reasons, too, why "The Scourge Of The Light" sounds so impressive. Despite their limited production budget, JAG PANZER spared no expense or effort to give their ten fantastic new songs a driving their trademark sound. For this reason, they asked Jim Morris to mix the recordings at his legendary Morrisound Studios in Florida and sent the result to New York's renowned Sterling Sound for mastering. The result is a real ear catcher, without any ifs and buts.
"I feel 'The Scourge Of The Light' is the best-sounding album in the history of JAG PANZER," Tetley says.
"Scourge Of The Light" track listing:
01. Condemned To Fight
02. The Setting Of The Sun
03. Bringing On The End
04. Call To Arms
05. Cycles
06. Overlord
07. Let It Out
08. Union
09. Burn
10. The Book Of Kells
Former MEGADETH/KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover recently completed work on his debut solo album, "Metalusion", for an early 2011 release via Magna Carta Records. In addition, he has put together a solo band consisting of the following musicians:
Glen Drover - Guitar
Jim Gilmour - Keyboards
Chris Sutherland - Drums
Paul Yee - Bass
Writing on his newly launched official Facebook page, Drover states, "In December of 2007, I made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life, which was to leave the band MEGADETH — a band that I had worked very hard with and helped bring back from the dead. Although I am very happy about what we accomplished in the four-year period I was in the band, things had changed quite a bit towards the end of my time with MEGADETH, and not necessarily for the better for me, so I handed in my resignation, so to speak.
"Shortly after a nice long break, I decided to start recording again, but wanted to try something different, which was to form a band and play all instrumental music — a task that would not be easy and would become something very challenging and fun, of course! A combination of metal, harder edge jazz fusion and prog. I contacted Chris Sutherland and shared this idea with him and he was very excited about this possibility. At that point, he recommended a friend of his to play bass, Paul Yee, and also recommended Jim Gilmour from the prog rock band SAGA, which Chris had played with for a short while.
"Not knowing how this set of musicians would sound like together, I though it would be a good idea to record three tracks — one Al Dimeola track, as well as two tracks from the awesome Jean Luc Ponty.
"I'm not sure if any of us really knew how well any of these tracks would turn out, Not knowing if we would jell properly, etc..Well, we could not be happier! That is what set the pace and the start of what I consider to be a great band of guys who are on the same page and very excited and driven to write and play the best we can.. and have fun doing things 'our way' and not following any trends!!
"This new album, coming out in the early 2011 is going to be called 'Metalusion' and was recorded sporadically over a 2-plus-year period.
"As an engineer, I worked very hard to make this album the very best production I can deliver to date! I am also very happy and honored to be playing with musicians of a very high level, as well as good people. It's something I always wanted to do and it's not something you find at the corner store. Believe me, I know.
"I hope you enjoy this album as much as we do."
Reactivated '80s rockers BLACK 'N BLUE will perform at Casselmans in Lodo in Denver, Colorado on March 25.
For more information, visit www.casselmansdenver.com.
BLACK 'N BLUE reformed with the classic lineup of Tommy Thayer, Jaime St. James, Pete Holmes, Patrick Young and Jeff Warner for an appearance at the Oregon Music Hall Of Fame on October 9, 2010 at the Roseland Theatre in Portland. BLACK 'N BLUE was also among the inductees at last year's event, which "included dear friends, family and a ton of BLACK 'N BLUE fans," says Thayer. He adds, "A fantastic introduction by Peter Tashjian, son of our beloved manager Garo, told the story of how in 1983, five irrepressible young rockers (barely out of high school) made their way to Hollywood to take their shot at the big time. After our introduction, induction and receipt of Oregon Music Hall Of Fame plaques, we jumped onstage for a 30-minute set of BLACK 'N BLUE faves, including 'Hold On To 18', 'Miss Mystery' and 'Nasty Nasty', among others. It was a great feeling to get together with Jaime, Pete, Patrick and Woop and let the good times roll again; and to
celebrate all things BLACK 'N BLUE!"
Check out photos from the event at TommyThayer.com.
In the late '70s, a glam metal band appeared in Portland called MOVIE STAR. The band included guitarist Tommy Thayer, vocalist Jaime St. James, drummer Pete Holmes, bassist Patrick Young and guitarist Jeff Warner. That band became BLACK 'N BLUE, releasing their 1984 debut album on Geffen with the hit single "Hold On To 18". The band recorded three more albums for Geffen, with two produced by Gene Simmons of KISS. The band broke up in 1989, reuniting in 1997 and again in 2007. The band is currently reunited without Tommy, who replaced Ace Frehley in KISS in 2002.
After months of speculation following their performance at Germany's Keep It True festival last April, the members of the reunited metal stalwarts FIFTH ANGEL have announced Arizona-based powerhouse David Fefolt as their new permanent lead vocalist.
Fefolt, who has fronted metal bands such as VALHALLA, HAWK, MASI, FORGOTTEN REALM and ANGELS OF BABYLON, has been a friend of FIFTH ANGEL for some time and is very excited to begin the next chapter in the group's saga. The band also launched a brand new official web site at midnight New Year's Eve to keep fans up to date on touring and recording news.
FIFTH ANGEL is currently demoing material in Seattle for what will be the group's third full-length album. A 2011 release is expected.
FIFTH ANGEL 2011 is:
Ed Archer: Guitar
Kendall Bechtel: Guitar
John Macko: Bass
Jeffrey McCormack: Drums
David Fefolt: Vocals
Davd Brinn of The Jerusalem Post recently conducted an interview with DISTURBED frontman David Draiman. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Jerusalem Post: When did your relationship with Israel start?
Draiman: I came [to Israel] many times as a kid with my family. I think the first time I was six. I used to come here for summer camp a couple times in my childhood, and I spent the year after high school here studying at Neve Zion yeshiva [in Telz Stone]. I was one of those guys you used to see getting into trouble or hanging out on Kikar Zion in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Post: You attended your brother's [who is also a musician] show last night in Jerusalem (at the Off the Wall Comedy Club). Did you get up and perform with him?
Draiman: No, no, no! I didn't get up and perform. You know, the last time I went to see him, he called me up and I told him then to never do that to me again. I don't mind being put on the spot, but I'm coming there for my brother and it shouldn't be about me. I didn't wear these [pointing to his oversized chin piercings], I went to watch his show, I'm off the clock.It also makes me feel uncomfortable if I think that he feels any residual feelings over attention being given to me — I want it to be all about him and to honor him.
The Jerusalem Post: What was your Jewish upbringing like?
Draiman: I attended five different Jewish day schools as a teenager. I mean, I was trained as a hazan! I led High Holy Day services a number of years in Chicago. If I did a little refresher I could still do it, but I don't think I'd be a really good representative before God for anybody these days. My freshman year of high school was at WITS, the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study in Milwaukee. And I got asked to leave after my first year there. It wasn't because of my studies – they were always way past the norm, I graduated with a 3.75 GPA and scored just under 1400 on my SATs. Academics were never the issue. The issue was suppression of normalcy. I couldn't really stomach the rigorous religious requirements of the life, I just wanted to be a normal teenage kid, and here I was being shipped of to a yeshiva. In an environment where you're not allowed to watch television, you can't read magazines or go to the movies, you can't fraternize with the
opposite sex whatsoever, you have to wear the uniform every day of tzitzit, the button- down the shirts, the dress slacks, the shoes, you have to make sure you're not even wearing a kippa sruga, it was just stifling. So what did that end up turning into? I'd set my friends up on dates with girls that I knew, in defiance of the school. So I became the "pimp" of the school even though no such thing was happening Or I'd smoke a little bit of weed here and there, I'd get my buddies high, so I was the drug dealer on campus even though that's not what I was doing. I just rebelled against the conformity — the gag reflex worked. When I got sent to Los Angeles, it wasn't any better — it was easier to get away with it because I wasn't in a dorm and living at the rabbi's house. Unfortunately, during Pessah cleaning, the rabbi was searching for hametz in the drawers and he found a half empty box of condoms and a half empty bag of weed, and that was the end of
my living in the rabbi's house. I actually ended up graduating high school from the Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago, which was the school I wanted to go to in the beginning.
The Jerusalem Post: Playing heavy metal, you must run into fans occasionally who espouse anti-Semitic or neo-Nazi sentiments. How do you deal with it?
Draiman: I'm incredibly defiant against neo-Nazis and skinheads. In fact, here's a true story that occurred in the band's infancy when we were playing Southside Chicago clubs. One of the guys who would come to see us was a skinhead, he had a swastika tattoo, the whole nine yards. After he became a die-hard fan, the band was sitting down having drinks after a show and he comes in and starts going on about niggers and Jews, and I interrupted him and said, "Dude, I don't know if you realize this but I'm Jewish." He responded, "You're Jewish! This completely changes my whole idea of what a Jew is supposed to be." And soon after that, he had his swastika removed, and denounced the skinhead culture. I've always been very proud of my heritage and where I come from, and I've defended it to the extent of being bloodied on many occasions. In fact, most of the fights I've been in my life — and there have been many — have been because I was defending my family
or my faith. And I don't apologize for it. There's still anti-Semitism everywhere, and unfortunately, what has happened with our people no longer being the underdogs in this region, people's perception of Israel has changed dramatically. I find myself more and more having to defend us, and I will continue to do so. I wrote a song on our latest album, "Asylum", called "Never Again" about the Holocaust and the people who deny it, like Ahmadinejad, that piece of shit. And part of our live show includes a video presentation depicting him as the new Hitler. Believe you me, I've always been direct about hits, I never pull any punches and I will never apologize for who I am or where I come from.
Following on from their recent appearance at Mayhem Fest, Christy Lee had the chance to have a chat with Lamb of God's drummer Chris Adler about the new album, record labels being in trouble and how difficult it is for new bands to get heard today.
What do you think are the most contributing factors that made Lamb of God one of the leaders of the new wave of American metal?
Chris Adler: Wow, I would have to say the fans of course. I attribute some of it to media praise also. When we first got together as a group, we didn't all agree on what we should sound like. We all had different ideas on metal and hard rock. We soon came together on what we should sound like. I feel we have a very unique sound which is very important in the success of a band. You really have to take all of your influences and make a custom blend and own it. I feel we all have made really good choices, have gone on so many different tours, worked with so many great bands out there, really we were all in the right place at the right time and just got lucky.
What are your thoughts on today's metal scene?
Chris Adler: Wow, well I think there are way too many copy cat bands out there right now. Too much copy cat stuff, you know? Most bands are under the false assumption that if a band is successful then it's okay for them to copy their style instead of creating their own sound. It's getting too over crowded with bands out there that just don't have their own sound. There are very few bands rising to the top. The fans are very fragmented on what metal they like. Most bands are afraid to cross lines and take risks in inventing their own sound. We haven't been afraid to do this, and we are all very happy with the results. My brother, Willie Adler and I were just talking about this subject the other day.
Now that you have "Mayhem Fest" under your belt what's next on the menu for "Lamb of God"?
Chris Adler: We are going to play a couple of shows with Metallica. Then we will be headlining our first Australian tour. That's going to be very exciting. We are really looking forward to that. We have never been over there before. Then we will have some time off to reconnect with our families, rest and are planning on going back into the recording studio in November to begin recording our new album.
What direction are you planning to take with your new album that will make it stand out from your previous albums?
Chris Adler: This time we will have No Limits! We are planning on making it better than all the rest, harder, faster, a more unique than ever before. We all agree on what we want as far as sound and structure and look forward to working on it.
What will the new album be about? Do you already have the album title picked out?
Chris Adler: Nope, we don't have anything as of yet, we're planning on just going into the studio and we will see what we come up with.
If you could change anything you wanted in the music industry, what would it be?
Chris Adler: Wow, oh wow. Well the first thing I would do would be to change the ratio of pay rate between the labels and the musicians. That won't be happening any time soon though sadly. Wow, the record industry is in really bad shape right now. Especially with all the illegal downloads going on. We are all feeling it, the musicians, and the labels. There are so many bands out there with so much talent and I really feel bad about the whole situation. Most of these bands will never make it. Even a band that is at our level doesn't make all that much money. Most of what we make goes right back out to cover
the cost for touring. The over head is exponential for a successful touring band.
Do you any last words for your fans out there?
Chris Adler: Thank you so much for all your support, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you all. Keep a look out for our new album.
LEGION OF THE DAMNED, THE KANDIDATE, DESTRUCTION and SKALDGRIM have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Elsrock festival, set to take place August 27, 2011 in Rijssen, Netherlands.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
ASPHYX
DESTRUCTION
LEGION OF THE DAMNED
SKALDGRIM
SYMPHORCE
THE KANDIDATE
For more information, visit www.elsrock.nl.
Swedish hard rockers BONAFIDE will release a new EP, "Fill Your Head With Rock - Old, New, Tried & True", on January 28, 2011. The band states, "[We] decided to go for a EP instead of the ordinary radio single format this time around. The reasons were many, but first and foremost it shows a band vitalized by the addition of drummer Niklas Matsson (RAGING SLAB, BACKDRAFT), and what better way to introduce a new member than to buy some studio time and record a couple of favorite tracks live in the studio!
"'Fill Your Head With Rock' and 'No Doubt About It' are both taken from [BONAFIDE's] second album, 'Something's Dripping'. We gave the opener, 'Fill Your Head…', a little 'haircut,' making it more representable for radio. This is a true anthem, and a song that has grown into a live favorite. 'No Doubt About It' was picked to be included in the new Atari game 'Test Drive Unlimited 2', released for various platforms early 2011.
"The six-track EP also includes the song 'Kick Me Out' that, for some unknown reason, was not included on the final version of 'Something's Dripping'. We feel this song is a fantastic representation of a band that for the last two years has gained an ever-growing audience around Europe by extensive touring. 'I Don't Need No Doctor', 'I Can't Explain' and 'Nice Boys (Don't Play Rock 'N' Roll)' sees BONAFIDE paying homage to some rock giants. THE WHO's 'I Can't Explain' is another live favorite, often played as an encore. HUMBLE PIE's 'I Don't Need No Doctor' lets singer and frontman Pontus Snibb show off his golden vocal cords, and 'Nice Boys', which was recorded in one take, is two minutes of pure adrenalin. Also included are two videos: 'Hard Livin' Man' and the brand new 'No Doubt About It'."
"Fill Your Head With Rock - Old, New, Tried & True" EP track listing:
01. Fill Your Head With Rock (radio edit)
02. No Doubt About It
03. Kick Me Out
04. I Dont Need No Doctor
05. I Cant Explain
06. Nice Boys (Dont Play Rock 'N' Roll)
07. Hard Livin Man (video)
08. No Doubt About It (video)
IRON LAMB — the new Stockholm, Sweden-based band formed by underground metal veterans Johan Wallin (GENERAL SURGERY, SCURVY, BOMBSTRIKE, ex-REPUGNANT), Grga Lindström (ex-REPUGNANT), Thomas Daun (DISMEMBER, ex-REPUGNANT, ex-INSISION) and Daniel Ekeroth (TYRANT, ex-INSISION, ex-DELLAMORTE, author of "Swedish Death Metal" book) — has set "The Original Sin" as the title of its full-length debut, due later in the year via Pulverised Records. The CD's cover artwork and layout will be a collaboration between Lindström and Erik Danielsson (WATAIN) of Trident Arts.
"The Original Sin" track listing:
01. (Carved Out Of) Rotten Wood
02. The Original Sin
03. Dubious Preacher
04. Poison
05. Iron Lamb
06. Suicide!
07. Our Demise
08. I Don't Like You
09. I Don't Wanna Be Like You
10. Dead Inside
IRON LAMB made its live debut on August 22, 2009 at Swahili Bob's Tattoo & Piercing studio's fourth annual party at Hornstull Strand in Stockholm.
A press release states: "Tired of lame-ass '80s metal revival, weak MTV-whoring 'punk rock' and image-concerned rock 'n' roll, they have joined forces to threaten the scene with some lethal rock 'n' roll/punk, hailing the spirit of TRUE rock 'n' roll and punk rock, taking shape as a bastard son of early MOTÖRHEAD and G.G. ALLIN . . . This is the real deal, born and raised in the gutter and we're here to bring danger back into rock 'n' roll!"
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
WHITESNAKE/WINGER guitarist Reb Beach has scheduled the following Italian clinic tour dates:
Jan. 21 - Terracina (LT), Italy – Stonehenge Live Music Pub
Jan. 22 - Pisa, Italy - Borderline Club
Jan. 23 - Perugia, Italy - Modern Music Institute + Associazione Fare Musica
Jan. 25 - Boschetto di Curtatone (MN), Italy - Biergarten
Jan. 26 - Legnano (MI), Italy - Land of Live
Jan. 27 - Castegnato (BS), Italy - Gasoline Road Bar
Jan. 28 - Scandiano (RE), Italy - Corallo
Jan. 29 - Bologna, Italy - Music Academy Italy
Jan. 30 - Udine, Italy - Black Mirror Studios
Beach recently completed work on the new WHITESNAKE album, "Forevermore", tentatively due at the end of March via Frontiers Records. He said, "I worked closely with Doug [Aldrich, guitar] and David [Coverdale, vocals], and we got some great solos. I did a lot of singing as well and I even had the honor of doing sort of a duet with David." He added, "The record sounds fantastic with some classic WHITESNAKE-type songs."
Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have officially entered the studio to begin work on their first album without drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy. The band's guitarist, John Petrucci, writes on his Twitter profile, "First day in studio [and] the dawn of a new era for DREAM THEATER. Can't wait to get the music flowing."
DREAM THEATER has yet to announce a replacement for Portnoy, who left the band last September. Petrucci recently stated about the group's drummer search, "Auditions went great and we do have someone but we are spending some time getting everything in order before making an official announcement. Let me just say that we are all incredibly excited about our choice and just bursting at the seams to let the world know!"
DREAM THEATER will co-headline next year's edition of Classic Rock magazine's award-winning High Voltage festival, set to take place Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24, 2011 in Victoria Park, London, England. The band will headline the main stage on July 24. High Voltage 2011 will mark the first U.K. performance of the group's new lineup following the departure of Portnoy.
Just days after it was announced that he'd been dismissed as the touring drummer for AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Portnoy revealed that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, and was rebuffed.
Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band this summer while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD.
He played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and has toured with them since early summer.
Drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, TRANSATLANTIC), guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, SPOCK'S BEARD), bassist Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) and vocalist Casey McPherson (ALPHA REV, ENDOCHINE) have joined forces in a brand new project. The as-yet-unnamed band has just entered the studio to begin work on a new album, due later in the year.
Regarding how the new project came together, Neal Morse said, "Last April I got together with Steve Morse to do some writing and to see what would happen with a collaboration between the two of us and how I went down to his house in Florida and spent some days with him, getting to know him and writing some music and we had a really good time. So we've been talking about doing a project together for a while."
As for the musical direction of the new project, Neal said, "We're all going to get together and work from scratch with no pre-prepared material and see what comes out.
"I'd like to do something different. Something to make it very different from like my solo stuff or TRANSATLANTIC.
"There are some demos and some things that Steve and I did in April that we've worked on and so we'll have some things to start with, but I think the plan is to get together and see what happens and write in the room."
He added, "We're all excited about the project, but it is a bit of a mystery as to what will come. The vision is to do something a little more song-oriented and not quite so riffy, as one might expect. But still, of course, having the musical elements that people like Steve Morse, Dave LaRou, Mike Portnoy, and myself can provide."
Although Neal is hoping to release the album this year, he was quick to point out that there is no firm timetable set for the completion of the new project's debut.
"We've mapped out about 10 days [in the studio for the project's first session]," he said. "We'll see what happens and see how much we can get done, if we can't get the basics down enough for an album then we'll have to continue on later.
"Everyone's schedules are a bit in flux and their very busy people so I don't know how long it will take us to actually finish and release the record."
Frontiers Records has set a February 18 European release date (March 8 in North America) for BENEDICTUM's third full-length album, entitled "Dominion".
Formed in 2005 and quickly noticed by DIO guitarist Craig Goldy, BENEDICTUM's debut album, "Uncreation", was released to great reviews. The collaboration between producer Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, DIO, FOREIGNER) and the musical works of vocalist Veronica Freeman and Pete Wells, along with the talent of drummer Blackie Sanchez, bassist Jesse Wright and keyboardist Chris Morgan, made a splash on the hard rock scene, with BENEDICTUM being selected one of the top bands to watch in 2006 by Classic Rock magazine and one of Rock Hard Germany's top 50 albums for that year. Guest appearances on the CD included Jeff Pilson, Craig Goldy and Jimmy Bain.
The result of the second collaboration between Jeff Pilson and BENEDICTUM was their 2008 release, "Seasons Of Tragedy", which saw them evolve into a metal force which could not be denied. With Veronica's raw and powerful vocals, songs with memorable melodies and the magical talent of Pete Wells along with new drummer Paul Courtois and the guidance of Jeff Pilson, the CD further solidified the fact that there was something quite special at work here. The album featured guest appearances by Jeff Pilson, Craig Goldy and George Lynch, who added his special flair to the track "Bare Bones" and the cover of ACCEPT's "Balls to the Wall".
Their driving music and energetic shows allowed BENEDICTUM to grace the stage of many festivals, including Wacken Open Air, Gods Of Metal and Hard Rock Hell, and landed the band a support tour with DORO.
Now ready for yet another amazing chapter, BENEDICTUM is off on a new and exciting musical episode as they have signed a contract with Frontiers Records. Building upon its great foundation, BENEDICTUM has recruited Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Greene (MEGADETH, F5, MXPX, NOFX) and is firing on all cylinders. With members Chris Shrum now on bass, Mike Pannone on drums and Tony Diaz on keyboards, the new music promises to continue to expand the horizon for BENEDICTUM and is sure to please current fans as well. From the onslaught of the opening track "Dominion" to the epic "Epsilon" and the heartfelt acoustic track "Sanctuary", this album has it all. Adding to the already explosive sound of "Dominion" are guest appearances by Jeff Pilson, Craig Goldy and none other than Rudy Sarzo on the fist-pumping track "Bang".
"Dominion" track listing:
01. Dominion
02. At The Gates
03. Seer
04. Grind It
05. Prodigal Son
06. The Shadowlands
07. Beautiful Pain
08. Dark Heart
09. Bang
10. Loud Silence
11. Epsilon
12. Sanctuary (bonus track)
13. Overture/The Temples of Syrinx (bonus track)
FOZZY — the band featuring WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho and STUCK MOJO mastermind Rich "The Duke" Ward — will perform at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California on Thursday, January 13 during the winter NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show. Support at the gig will come from JEFF SCOTT SOTO and ZO2.
FOZZY's latest album, "Chasing The Grail", sold around 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 6 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Chasing the Grail" was released on January 26 via Australia's Riot! Entertainment.
In a recent interview with Australia's Loud magazine, Jericho stated about "Chasing The Grail", "We made such advances with 'All That Remains' that we really wanted to make 'Chasing the Grail' something that would take us to the next level 'cause we knew we had a chance to gain prominence, gain credibility and gain success for the band. That's why we took so much time on doing 'Grail'... the songwriting, the recording, putting together the right team to promote it and it's been a huge success worldwide. It's got the best reviews we've gotten, the most airplay we've gotten, the best sales we've had."
He added, "It really is a diverse record for us. There's a lot of different styles of music. It's still FOZZY, but there's 'Under Blackened Skies' or 'Friday the 13th' which are very fast, thrashing songs, but you also get 'Wormwood' a 14-minute song, 'Broken Soul' is like a Southern ballad and 'New Day's Dawn' is a European, CANDLEMASS, LACUNA COIL type of a song. So there really is a lot of diversity on the record, and I think that's something else that's taken the band to a different place. I know doing a 14-minute song is not something that every band tries and the ones that do don't always succeed, so just having that track on the album put us into a good place as well. We really, really took a long time to make this record something that people would consider to be a classic, and so far so good!"
Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH have issued the following update:
"Our first gig of 2011 will be a benefit show for our former bass player Chris 'Rover' Rybicki, who tragically lost his life at the hands of an alleged drunk driver this past September. We will be playing alongside another one of Rover's former bands, NO CHOICE, as well as our friends in SCREAMS OF ERIDA and GASKET. All proceeds will go directly to the Rybicki family. Come down to one of our old stomping grounds to celebrate the life of our longtime friend as well as helping out the family he left behind. R.I.P., Rover." The concert will take place February 19 at Saint Michaels Hall in Lynn, Massachusetts. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are just $10 and only available at the door.
For more information, go to this location.
Rybicki passed away on September 20, 2010 from injuries sustained in an accident when the scooter he was riding on was hit by an allegedly drunk woman.
According to The Salem News, Rybicki was riding a scooter in Salem, Massachusetts on August 28 when it collided with a 2008 Volkswagen Passat driven by Beth MacGillivary (photo of crash scene).
MacGillivary failed two field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of .17, more than twice the legal limit, police said.
Rybicki was a member of UNEARTH from 1998 to 2002. He played on the band's first two EPs — "Above The Fall Of Man" (1999) and "Endless" (2002) — as well as the group's full-length debut, "The Stings Of Conscience" (2001).
The Salem News listed Rybicki's age at the time of his death as 39 while The Daily Item reported that he was 35 years old.
UNEARTH previously stated about Rybicki, "Not only was Rover a talented musician, but he was also one of the funniest dudes you would ever know. His wit, dark humor and don't-give-a-fuck attitude made him a unique person that we all loved having in our lives. His memory will live on amongst his family and friends with the countless stories of Rover being Rover. He will be sorely and forever missed."
Danish metallers AS WE FIGHT has entered Dead Rat Studio in Århus, Denmark with producer Jacob Bredahl (THE BURNING, HATESPHERE, HORNED ALMIGHTY) to begin recording five songs for an exclusive full-length split album with THE PSYKE PROJECT, which will be released under the name EBOLA in April 2011. The release will see the return of AS WE FIGHT's original singer Laurits Medom, who has rejoined the band after a three-year absence.
Commented AS WE FIGHT: "After three albums, we are pleased to avoid the traditional release process and explore new opportunities with THE PSYKE PROJECT in connection with the EBOLA collaboration. We have furthermore focused on a more rock and dynamic approach to the music."
Visit the EBOLA platform in order to receive more information about the upcoming split release with AS WE FIGHT and THE PSYKE PROJECT.
"Meet Your Maker", the third album from AS WE FIGHT, was released in May 2009 through Dockyard 1 Records. The CD was produced and mixed by Jacob Bredahl (HATESPHERE, KOLDBORN) and mastered by Ziggy (ILLDISPOSED, RAUNCHY, MERCENARY).
ASYLUM, the Illinois-based project featuring Markus Johansson (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Johnny Rox (bass), has changed its name to SYLENCER. The band's debut album, "A Lethal Dose Of Truth", has been completely self-produced by Johansson and Rox and is nearing completion. The CD will contain 15 tracks with guest appearances by some of hard rock/heavy metal's brightest stars, including Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER), Rob Caggiano (ANTHRAX, THE DAMNED THINGS), Steve Smyth (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE) and Christian Lasegue (JAG PANZER).
SYLENCER is:
* Markus Johansson - Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals
* Johnny Rox - Bass
Featuring:
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, CHIMAIRA, DYING FETUS) - Drums
* Larry Tarnowski (ICED EARTH) - Lead Guitar
Guest Appearances:
* Gene Hoglan - Drums (SYL, DETHKLOK, ZIMMERS HOLE, DEATH, DARK ANGEL)
* Brendon Small (DETHKLOK/METALOCALYPSE) - Lead Guitar
* Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND, DEATH) - Lead Guitar
* Michael Angelo Batio (NITRO) - Lead Guitar
* Roland Grapow (HELLOWEEN, MASTERPLAN) - Lead Guitar
* The Heathen (ZIMMERS HOLE) - Vocals
* Bill Hudson (CELLADOR, POWER QUEST) - Lead Guitar
* Emil Werstler (DAATH) - Lead Guitar
* Rob Caggiano (ANTHRAX) - Lead Guitar
* "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (ROB HALFORD, SEBASTIAN BACH, PAINMUSEUM) - Lead Guitar
* Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, DEATH, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH) - Bass
* Alexei Rodriguez (PRONG, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, WALLS OF JERICHO) - Drums
* Eyal Levi (DAATH) - Lead Guitar
* Sean Reinert (CYNIC, AEON SPOKE, DEATH) - Drums
* Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT) - Keyboards
* Steve Smyth (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE) - Lead Guitar
* Christian Lasegue (JAG PANZER) - Lead Guitar
Production:
* Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY) - Vocal Engineering
* Wes 'Waxley' Seidman (GREEN DAY) - Engineering
* Ulrich Wild (WHITE ZOMBIE, PANTERA, DETHKLOK) - Mixing
* Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Mastering
SYLENCER is currently unsigned and looking for a suitable record label to release "A Lethal Dose Of Truth".
For more information, visit www.sylencermusic.com.
Spanish metal band CHILDRAIN will release its debut album, "Life Show", on January 21. The CD was recorded at Lamina studios during September 2010 and is described by the group as "a 100 percent metal album."
01. Cursed
02. There Will Be
03. No One Left To Blame
04. Portrait Of Submission
05. Misery
06. The End Of Days
07. Life Show
08. Sinner
09. The End Of Illusion
A CD-release party will be held on January 21 in CHILDRAIN's hometown of Vitoria at Jimmy Jazz Stage where the band will perform the new album in its entirety.
CHILDRAIN's first EP, "A Place Between Hell & Heaven", was recorded in 2009.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/childrainband.
Spanish thrash metal newcomers BREATHLESS will release their debut album, "Thrashumancy", on January 15, 2011 via Xtreem Music.
A press release from Xtreem states: "With a classic thrash [sound], BREATHLESS's intentions are no other than creating an intense-yet-catchy style with influences that sometimes could remind bands like CORONER, KREATOR ('Extreme Aggression' era), SABBAT (U.K.) and a varied range of speed/thrash influences specially from the good old German scene from late '80s.
"With an excellent cover artwork created by famous artist Juanjo Castellano and a crystal-clear-yet-powerful production, 'Thrashumancy' brings 13 songs that will for sure please every thrasher around."
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/breathlessarras.
Chicago, Illinois-based hardcore band WAR HOUND has inked a deal with I Scream Records. The band will enter the studio later in the year to record its full-length debut. In the meantime, I Scream is offering WAR HOUND's "For The Hounds" EP for free to anyone who's looking for some great new hardcore tunes.
Founded in 2009, WAR HOUND is heavily influenced by bands like CROWN OF THORNZ, BREAKDOWN and MADBALL.
"When we received this EP I was happily surprised by the fresh sound of these Chicago youngsters," stated I Scream's Laurens Kusters. "Besides working with the established bands, we're always on the lookout for the new breed of hardcore. bands that can grown into the classics of the next generation. WAR HOUND is definitely one of those bands so keep an eye out for these guys."
AVA INFERI, the Portugal-based band whose lineup includes Norwegian guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), has announced the addition of female bassist Joana Messias to the group's ranks.
AVA INFERI will hold a CD-release party for its fourth album, "Onyx", on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Side B Bar in Benavente, Portugal. The band will perform a lengthy set consisting mostly of material from the new CD.
"Onyx" will be released on February 14 (February 15 in the U.S.) via Season Of Mist.
The track listing is as follows:
01. Onyx
02. The Living End
03. A Portal
04. ((Ghostlights))
05. Majesty
06. The Heathen Island
07. By Candlelight & Mirrors
08. Venice in Fog
Check out the cover artwork below.
Commented Eriksen: "(Witch)Crafted and dragged into sunlight by Costin Chioreanu / Twilight13Media (ABSU, GRAVE, DEMONICAL), this illustration portraits a more eerie visual side of AVA INFERI than our previous arts. A mysterious and sinister approach to AVA INFERI's aesthetics indeed. I really feel that it connects with the album on a musical and lyrical level, too, as it is creating some sort of a window into the fields of the inspirations behind this new offering.
"We have always dwelled in the more obscure side of things, and even though we have weaved an occasional Wiccan flame or Bacchanalian praise into our arts, we've always cherished and explored the aspects of 'horror.' With 'Onyx' we have definitely gone deeper into it. Anyway, Costin (who also did the clip for 'Last Sign of Summer') has really done a great job, and we are thankful and grateful for the dedication and hard work he put into this work. Multumesc foarte mult!!"
Resurrected German death metallers MORGOTH have been confirmed for this year's installment of the Rock Hard festival, set to take place June 10-12, 2011 at the Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AGENT STEEL
ANACRUSIS
ATLANTEAN KODEX
DISBELIEF
ENFORCER
ENSLAVED
EPICA
IN SOLITUDE
METAL INQUISITOR
MORGOTH
OVERKILL
TRIPTYKON
For more information, visit www.rockhardfestival.de.
GAUSS, the new project featuring two former members of the Indianapolis, Indiana death/thrash metal band DEMIRICOUS — guitarist Scott Wilson and drummer Chris Cruz — will release a 12-minute song called "Empty Frames" via the group's web site on January 11, 2011. A press release states, "If you like DEMIRICOUS... you will hate this!"
DEMIRICOUS' most recent album, "Two (Poverty)", was released in October 2007. The CD was produced by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL) at the Mana Recording Studios in Florida.
Swedish death metalers VOLTURYON will release their sophomore album, "Coordinated Mutilation", in February via United Guttural Records. The contains 10 tacks recorded at Black Lounge and Abyss studios by Jonas Kjellgren (CARNAL FORGE, SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX) and features "gruesome" artwork and layout by Lukasz Jaszak (LORDS OF CHAOS, BLOOD RED THRONE, WITCHMASTER). The music on the disc is described in a press release as "aggressive-yet-technical death metal with thrash elements. Straight-forward and well-played. 'Coordinated Mutilation' is one solid-structured song after the next with cool riffs, solos, intensely growled vocals and a tight rhythm section."
VOLTURYON's previous album, "Blood Cure", was released in 2008 through Obscure Domain Productions. Since then VOLTURYON has played a number of high-profile shows, including the Sweden Rock Festival where the band performed alongside AT THE GATES and CARCASS, among others.
For more information, visit www.myspace.com/volturyon.
Swedish melodic doom/death metallers SLUMBER have officially called it quits. The group's long-awaited new album, "Resonance", has been re-titled "Skylight" and will be released in the fall under the new band moniker ATOMA.
ATOMA (MySpace page) features former SLUMBER keyboardist/vocalist Ehsan Kalantarpour alongside Rickard Insulander, Siavosh Bigonah and Markus Hill, among others.
In other news, former SLUMBER guitarist/vocalist Jari Lindholm has launched an as-yet-unnamed new project. The band is scheduled to enter the studio in two weeks to begin recording its debut album. More information is available at this location.
SLUMBER's first and only album, "Fallout", was released in 2004 via Karmageddon/New Aeon Media.
Guitarist Mike Ferguson of the Dutch death/thrash metal act DETONATION has issued the following update:
"We have some good and some sad news!
"Sad news first... we parted ways with three band members recently. Danny [Tunker; guitar) and Michiel [van der Plicht; drums] have gone on to seek their fame and fortune with GOD DETHRONED and PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT. Due to their busy schedules, it was impossible to keep playing in DETONATION. However, we parted as friends and wish them good luck and much success in these bands.
"Also, after 12 years in DETONATION, Otto [Schimmelpenninck; bass] has decided to leave the band. His busy schedule with DELAIN prohibited his 100 percent focus and attention for DETONATION, and as he did not think this was fair towards us, he respectfully gave up his role as bass player for DETONATION. We will miss Otto as a friend and also wish him much success with DELAIN!
"Then the good news! Koen [Romeijn, vocals] and I have no intention on quitting, quite the contrary, we are more focused and determined than before. We have been practicing with new musicians for a month or so, and it is going great.
"On drums we welcome Allard van der Kuip, known from Utrecht band GRINDPAD. And on bass we welcome Harry van Breda.
"Harry is known as the vocalist in I-CHAOS, and also the guy that recorded and mixed our new album, 'Reprisal'. Both new guys come from our town Utrecht, and have been friends of the band since quite a while. Together with Allard and Harry, we are driven and focused to get DETONATION back on track, playing gigs and kicking ass!
"We are very happy with the new guys in the band, and are eager to get our killer new album, 'Reprisal' (check out the cover artwork by Eliran Kantor below, release date soon to be announced) to you.
"Thank you all for your patience, we'll make sure it will all be worth the wait!"
"Reprisal" track listing:
01. Enslavement
02. No Turning Back
03. Feeding On The Madness
04. Ruptured
05. Absentia Mentis
06. Washing Away The Blood
07. Falling Prey
08. Insults To My Heritage
The song "No Turning Back" is available for streaming on DETONATION's MySpace page.
DETONATION's previous album, "Emission Phase", was released on April 30, 2007. The CD was recorded with Split Second Sound's Jochem Jacobs (also guitar player for TEXTURES) and Bouke Visser. The cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.
"Emission Phase" was DETONATION's third and final album for French underground label Osmose Productions.
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